All About Celiac Disease Symptoms

What is celiac disease

...and what are celiac disease symptoms?

Celiac disease is a digestive disorder affecting the small intestines. It meddles with the normal nutrients absorption from food.

Celiac disease symptoms may range in intensity. Some people may experience the signs and symptoms of celiac disease in a mild way, while others may experience severe or no symptoms at all.

Those with mild celiac disease tend to experience symptoms that are more subtle in other organs rather than the bowel itself.

Types of celiac disease symptoms

Gastrointestinal symptoms

Not all celiac disease patients experience these types of symptoms. However many are affected with the characteristic chronic diarrhea connected with it. The diarrhea is pale, voluminous, watery and smelly.

Gastrointestinal symptoms associated with celiac may include:

Abdominal pains

Cramping

Bloating

Abdominal distention caused by gas

Mouth ulcers

heartburn Nausea

Vomiting

Reflux

Headaches

Lactose intolerance: The inability to digest lactose (a type of sugar found in milk and some other diary products.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): Sometimes the symptoms are ascribed to IBS, only to be diagnosed later as celiac disease symptoms.

Malabsorption

Malabsorption is the difficulty absorbing nutrients, minerals, proteins, and fat soluble vitamins such as A, D, E, and K.

Changes in the bowel can cause it not to be able to absorb carbohydrates and fats. This can lead to many problems such as

Weight loss: This can occur because carbohydrates, fat, and proteins cannot be absorbed adequately. Weight reduction might not necessarily occur especially with some celiac disease patients who have voluptuous appetite to make up for decreased nutrients absorption.

Fluid retention can disguise weight loss making it less noticeable. A higher stage of malnutrition decreases the absorption of proteins.

The reduction of the levels of protein in the blood causes fluid to leak from the blood vessels into many body tissues, especially the feet and ankles. This results in swelling.

Nerve damage: A reduced absorption of B12 vitamin and thiamine can contribute to nerve damage. This can lead to muscle weakness, poor balance, numbness, and tingle of the legs and arms. As a matter of fact, low absorption levels of potassium and manganese can also contribute to weak muscles, muscle cramps, numbness and prickling in the arms and legs.

Fatigue or lack of energy

Anaemia due to lack of iron, folic acid, and vitamin B12

Osteoporosis (bone weakening) due to lack of calcium and vitamin D

Easy bruising: Inability to absorb vitamin K, diminishes the ability of blood to clot, thus preventing bleeding.

Bacteria overgrowth of the small intestine which can also cause or worsen malabsorption.

Infertility: When celiac disease remains untreated, it can lead to many different kinds of problems such as infertility and menstrual issues, and miscarriages.

Restricted growth in children: Celiac disease in children may leads to inability to absorb carbohydrates and fat, stifling growth in children.

Other symptoms

Other syndroms related to symptoms of celiac disease may include:

Bone or joint pain,canker sores inside the mouth, arthritis, dermatitis, hair loss, seizures, anxiety, enamel(dental) defects, migraine, and depression.

There is no easy cure for celiac disease. Treatment for celiac disease symptoms will have to depend on the proper celiac disease diet, supplements, and medication.

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